What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).

Portland has the most people working from home (18.5%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Killingly	Portland
People
Population	17,867Highest	5,944Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.8% CT: +0.9%
Median age	39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT	41.2±2.6Highest about the CT average
	Portland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2%	19.2%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Killingly and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5%	19.3%±3.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Killingly and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	46.1%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1%	9.3%±4.7Highest CT: 7.1%
	Portland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT	$89,401±$21kHighest 7% below CT
	Portland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT	$282,300±$13kLowest 23% below CT
	Killingly and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT	$1,122±$59Highest 25% below CT
	Portland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,922Lowest 41% below CT	$5,597Highest 16% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6%	49.7%±21.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Portland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest CT: 10%	4.7%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	77%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT	1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above CT	31 minHighest 15% above CT
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16%	18.5%±5.6Highest CT: 16%
	Portland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 149 in CT	#61 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	—
High school in town	Killingly High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.